How do 3D printers work?
From the simplest to the most complex project, a 3D printer can cope with any task. 3D printing is a very versatile method of producing utility items and rapid prototyping of test models (e.g. in the automotive industry). Over the past few decades, it has made waves in many industries around the world.
3D printers - what exactly is this device?
3D printers are a type of machines that, with a little human help, can create industrial, decorative, or everyday objects. They create shapes from any materials.
A 3D printer can produce almost anything, from ceramic mugs to plastic toys, metal machine parts, stoneware vases, fancy chocolate cookies and even, in the near future, human body parts.
How do 3D printers work?
The 3D printer is one of the most extraordinary technical inventions of our time. A device that can print any object: a dream come true for creative minds.
The operation of a 3D printer is similar to the well-known inkjet printer. However, instead of spraying ink onto paper, the 3D printing head spreads the printing material layer by layer on the plate.
Everyone can see how a 3D printer works. There are no limits to the material itself: plastic, ceramics, metal, and even food such as chocolate can serve as "ink" for a 3D printer. Now that we have clarified the question "what is a 3D printer?", let's move on to the question "how do 3D printers work?".
From idea to model – how does a 3D printer work?
Before a 3D printer can even print anything, there must first be a 3D model that the printer will be printing. This is easiest to create using CAD software. Depending on which three-dimensional object you want to print, you can also use various printing databases on the Internet. One of the most popular 3D printer template databases is Thingiverse. In most cases (depending on what you want), a simple search will provide you with a free CAD file that you can send to your 3D printer and print immediately after cutting.
From G code to a three-dimensional object – how does a 3D printer work?
Once the model is available and has been sent through the slicer, the 3D printer receives the ready-made machine code, G code, and can then navigate to all items relevant to the object and print the object. In addition to the print head position, the G-code also contains information about the extruder temperature and filament progress. So how does 3D printing work when we already have a ready idea for printing?
How does a 3D printer work?
The hot nozzle is the heart of the 3D printer. With a hot nozzle, the filament that is pushed into the nozzle by the extruder motor melts and flows out of the nozzle. Combined with the movement of the print head, the nozzle moves along the required geometry and prints filament wherever the object needs material.
3D printer – How it works?
The principle of operation of a 3D printer is very simple. 3D printing is a process in which a three-dimensional object is created by building successive layers of raw material. Each new layer is appended to the previous one until the object is completed. Objects are created from a digital 3D file, such as a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image.
The flexibility of 3D printing allows designers to easily make changes without having to install additional equipment or tools. It also enables manufacturers to create devices tailored to the patient's anatomy (patient-specific devices) or devices with very complex internal structures. These capabilities have sparked enormous interest in 3D printing medical devices and other products, including food, household products and automotive parts.
What 3D printing technologies are actually available?
First of all, we must be clear that there is no such thing as 3D printing "technology", but rather multiple 3D printing technologies. Therefore, we should first get an overview of this diversity of additive technologies. First of all, it is important to distinguish between different groups of 3D printing technologies.
Laser vs. powder bed process
An important distinction between different 3D printing processes is the distinction between processes that use a laser beam and those that melt powder. However, this rough distinction by no means covers all additive processes and how they work. This is how stereolithography works, after all, the oldest 3D printing process, neither with powder nor with a laser beam.
Laser 3D printing process
The most commonly used 3D printing process is selective laser sintering (also known as SLS printing). The 3D printer melts locally sintered plastic in the form of powder. This means that the laser beam pulls the pattern specified in the 3D files into the powder and creates a break-resistant model out of it.
Selective laser melting
Essentially, selective laser melting (also called SLM printing) works in exactly the same way as selective laser sintering. The difference, however, is that the powder is not sintered here. Moreover, SLM printing is practically only used for metal 3D printing.
Powder bed 3D printing process
Fused Deposition Modeling – This 3D printing process is usually abbreviated as FDM printing. In the extruder, plastic is melted in the form of rolls or sticks and transferred through a nozzle to the printing table. There, the 3D printer forms a liquid material according to the structure specified in the 3D files.
